V'      ^^ 


THE 


VOL.  IV. 


OCTOBER,  1026. 


NO.  X. 


NOTICE  OF  BAIRD  S       INQUIRY,  AND    EXAMINATION, 
ON  THE  SUBJECT  OF  PSALMODY,  IN    A  LETTER    TO 
THE    EDITOR. 

My  Dear  Sir, — I  have  just  read  the  last  publica- 
tion of  Mr.  Baird,  on  the  subject  of  psalmody. — 
You  request  me,  as  you  have  not  seen  the  pamph- 
let, to  give  you  my  opinion  of  its  merits.  With 
this  I  comply,  as  it  furnishes  me  an  opportunity  of 
addressing  an  old  friend,  which  is  always  gratify- 
ing ;  and  as  the  form  of  your  request  lays  me  un- 
der no  obligation  to  give  you  a  formal  and  full  re- 
view of  the  work,  it  is  hoped  a  simple  opinion, 
with  a  few  references  in  justification  of  it,  is  all 
you  expect.  Indeed,  a  review,  or  any  thing  like  a 
direct  notice  of  Mr.  B.'s  book,  or  any  thing  that 
could  be  fairly  construed  into  the  appearance  of 
controversy  with  him,  is  out  of  the  question.  My 
opinion  you  will  easily  gather  from  what  follows. 

The  body  of  the  work  consists  of  six  chapters, 
i Introduced  by  a  dedication,  a  kind  of  double  pre- 
face, an  Introduction — a  letter,  to  whom  address- 
ed is  not  said,  and  the  v/hole  closed  up  by  what, 
in  the  style  of  Mr.  Plowden,  may  be  called  a  PosU 
liminous  Advertisement.  "  All  this  kind  of  thing'* 
affords  Mr.  B.  an  occasion  of  telling  us,  that  he 
has,  at  least,  two  reputable  gentlemen  whom  he 
♦  considers  his  friends ;  and  likewise  of  giving  the 
very  edif^ying  information  of  I  he  urgency  of  friends, 
the   difficulties   through    which  his  work  had  to 

Vol.  IV.— No.  x,  37 


434  Kotict  ofBairds  ^Jnqutrt/  andExaminalion 

make  its  way  to  the  public,  and  withal,  what  he 
has  done,  what  he  ivoidd  like  to  do,  what  he  could 
do,  what  he  has  not  done,  what  he  may  do,  and 
what  he  may  never  attempt  to  do.  A  work  upon 
grace,  which  he  contemplates  at  a  distance,  from 
such  a  man,  after  what  many  consider  a  very  un- 
gracious work,  is  doubtless  a  desideratum. 

Of  the  work  before  us,  his  estimate  is  far  from 
humble.  He  expresses  a  "confidence  \vhich  he 
does  not  effect  to  conceal."  in  the  'weight  and  cor- 
rectness" of  his  argument,  and  that  his  readers 
"  will  not  have  cause  to  regret  the  expense  of  pur- 
chase, or  the  trouble  of  perusal."  Yet  he  author- 
izes us  to  believe,  that  worthy  as  his  book  is,  he 
could  have  made  it  much  better  ;  for  under  the 
urgency  of  friends,  and  the  calls  of  the  printer, 
l)e  wrote  "  cum  calamo  currente  !"  They  gave  him 
time  only  to  score  some  words,  and  to  interline 
others,  in  the  correction  of  his  copy.  Thus  he 
informs  us,  he  had  no  time  to  make  his  language 
better,  to  expunge  repetitions,  to  better  work  his 
argunrents.  What  pity  that  those  solicitous 
friends,  had  not  given  Mr.  B.  a  few  years  more,  in 
addition  to  the  six  or  seven,  which  elapsed  between 
tlie  publication  of  the  "  Apology  for  the  Psalms/ 
and  his  "Examination"  of  that  work,  in  order 
that  the  world  might  have  been  favoured  with 
those  fine  specimens  of  rhetoric  and  logic,  which 
he  was  capable  of  furnishing. 

Let  us  now  come  to  the  matter  of  his  six  chap- 
ters. Tlie  first  chapter,  contains  the  author's  ar- 
gument in  proof  of  a  human  psalmody  being  em- 
ployed, with  divine  approbation,  by  the  church  in 
the  ages  of  the  patriarchs,  from  Adam  to  Moses. 
(See  pp.  23 — 31.)  And  how,  my  dear  sir,  do  you 
suppose  he  proceeds?  You  could  hardly  divine 
how  he   manages   his  point.     He   lays  down  two 


On  the  Subject  of  Psalmody.  43.i> 

tables,  a  chronological  one  of  Scripture  songs, 
but  which  refers,  likewise  to  all  the  expressions  of 
praise,  whether  by  song  or  otherwise,  and  to  the 
mention  of  musical  instruments,  which  came  be- 
fore the  author ;  the  second  table  is  a  catalogue 
of  Scripture  names,  nineteen  in  all,  the  countries 
to  which  they  belonged,  and  a  doubtful  and  de- 
fective explanation  of  their  meaning.  From  them, 
by  a  logical  process,  somewhat  new,  indeed,  but 
the  ''weight  and  correctness"  of  which,  I  am  yet 
unable  to  perceive,  he  proposes  to  establish  his 
position.  Thus,  in  proof  of  it,  he  adduces  the 
song  of  the  angels,  at  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone  of  the  earth,  before  Adam  was  created.  Job. 
38:6,  7.  His  next  proof  is  taken  from  Tubal,  a 
descendant  of  Cain,  having  invented  the  harp  and 
the  organ.  Gen.  4  :  21.  And  in  Laban,  no  very 
good  man  either,  he  finds  a  witness,  for  he  talked 
of  his  mirth,  his  songs,  his  tabret,  and  his  harp. 
Gen  31  :  27.  In  this  period  he  places  the  book 
of  Job;  and  from  the  whole,  for  this  is  all  that  his 
chronology  furnishes  as  applicable  to  the  ages  be- 
fore Moses,  he  deems  the  proof  very  satisfactory. 
Inq.  p.   16G. 

You,  sir,  may  be  disposed  to  think  that  the  song 
of  angels,  L  jfore  man  was  made,  before  he  had 
fallen,  and  before  a  Saviour  was  revealed,  could 
teach  u:.  xevy  little  about  ari  evangelical  psalmody; 
and  surely  the  fact  of  angels  praising  God,  can 
decide  nothing  in  favour  of  human  psalmody,  in 
the  stated  worship  of  the  church.  Nor  will  the 
fact  that  Tubal,  an  excommunicate  from  the  fam- 
ily of  God,  invented  the  harp  and  the  organ,  ap- 
j)car  to  you  sufficient  evidence,  that  songs  of  hu- 
man composition  were  employed  hi  the  worship 
of  the  church  at  that  eaily  day.  Laban's  mirth, 
and  songs,  and  tabret,  and  harp,  will  go,  I  should 


436  Xoiice  of  Ba'ird  s  'Inquirij  and  Examination," 

think,  a  very  little  way  in  proof  ot  the  di\ine  right 
of  the  practice  contended  I'er  by  Mr.  B.  Tliat  the 
book  of  Job  was  theij  employed  in  the  psalmody 
ef  the  church,  admilling  it  to  belong  to  that  pe- 
riod, no  man  will  affirm.  And  yet  this  is  the 
whole  proof  of  this  chapter,  when  we  take  in  his 
nineteen  proper  names,  Enos,  jMakalateel,  Iladdaw, 
Uarra/i  Anor,  6^'C.  down  to  Anathoth.  This  is  the 
proof  which  Mr.  B.  is  confident  "  will  convince 
every  unbiassed  and  judicious  reader,  that  songs 
of  human  composure — with  divine  approbation," 
were  employed  from  the  time  of  Adain,  till  tl;at 
of  Moses,  in  the  psalmody  of  the  ciiurch.  What 
is  it,  do  you  ask,  in  which  this  satisfactory  proof 
consists?  Why,  sir,  review  it.  The  morning 
stars  ^ang  together  before  Adam  was  made,  Tu- 
bal, an  exile  from  God's  house,  invented  the  organ 
and  the  harp,  Laban,  an  idolater,  was  fond  cf 
mirth,  and  with  mirth,  and  song,  and  harp,  and 
tabret,  lie  said,  he  w^ould  have  sent  Jacob  away 
had  he  told  him  of  his  departure  ;  and  there  is  the 
book  of  Job,  a  part  of  our  Bible,  perhaps  the  old- 
est  poem  in  the  world.  ?^^ow,  sir,  if  all  this  Le 
not  sufficient  proof  of  our  author's  position,  Le 
most  triumphantly  adds,  Enos,  Mahalahcl,  Havo- 
rum,  Harran,  find  ail  the  rest  cf  tJe  nineteen 
names  of  men,  mountains,  rivers,  cities,  and,  it 
would  seem,  of  he  knew  not  what,  down  to  Ana- 
ihatk,  Tliisis  conclusive  ?  He  who  feels  not  th.c 
satisfying  force  of  this,  in  proof  of  the^?/,?  divinum 
of  a  human  psalmody,  mus^,,  indeed,  be  biased,  and 
without  judgment ! 

Mr.  B.  tolls  us  a  tale  of  a  sermon  by  a  Mr.  Wal- 
lace, on  the  subject  of  psalmody,  from  the  ShibLo' 
leih  and  Sd>bo!cth  of  Judg.  12  :  6.  Now,  for  one. 
I  really  do  not  know  liow  Mr.  B.'s  argument  for  a 
human  psalmody,  from  the  names  of  Enos,  Maha- 


On  the  Subject  of  Psalmody.  437 

laleel,  Harran,  &c.  could  be  better  answered  than 
by  repeating  the  word  Shibboleth.  The  one  sure- 
ly nneets  the  other  in  absurdity.  But  there  is  an 
internal  evidence  to  me,  that  our  author's  tale  is 
not  just  the  exact  truth.  Mr.  B.'s  assertion,  that 
what  he  states  could  be  estabhshed  in  a  court  of 
justice,  increases  the  doubt  upon  my  mind.  We 
know,  for  we  have  seen  the  value  of  such  proofs 
in  courts  of  justice,  in  reference  to  irreligious  con- 
tests about  religion.  But  were  it  all  true,  our  au- 
thor more  than  matches  his  antagonist.  Jubal  in- 
vented the  organ  and  the  harp  ;  Laban  had  mirth, 
song,  harp,  and  Tabrct  at  command  ;  Enos,  Arnon, 
jhwthoth  ^  Therefore  hymns  of  human  compo- 
sition were  sung,  ^wrs  divino,  from  Adam  to  Mo- 
ses !! !  Find,  if  you  can,  sir,  any  thing  in  the  re- 
cords of  nonsense  to  match  this.* 

The  second  chapter  purports  to  exhibit  the  use 
of  human  composures,  jure  divino,  in  the  church's 
psalmody,  from  Moses  to  Christ.  He  adverts  to 
six  songs  of  which  we  have  mention,  and  which 
comes  to  us  under  the  sanction  of  divine  inspira- 
tion, between  the  call  of  Israel  from  Egypt,  and 
the  time  of  David.  These,  however,  prove  noth- 
ing for  the  divine  right  of  a  human  psalmody,  and 
of  course  must  be  dismissed  from  this  argument. 
That  such  a  psalmody  existed,  Mr.  B.  presumes, 
and  very  confidently  refers  to  instances  of  its  be- 
ing employed.     His  first  instance,  is  certainly  an 

*That  God  was  praised  in  his  church,  since  there  was  one  upon 
earth,  and  that  that  praise  was  oflfered  through  the  mediation  of 
Christ,  are  facts  admitting  of  no  doubt.  The  forms  in  which 
praise  is  offered  to  God  are  very  numerous.  Psalmody  is  only 
one  of  them.  And,  as  a  stated  part  of  worship,  we  hear  little  of 
it  before  the  days  of  David.  Mr.  B.  appears  to  think  that  v.hen- 
ever  God  was  praised,  it  must  have  been  by  singing.  Hence  the 
little  sophistry  of  his  argument.  The  religion  of  the  Bible  was, 
j4t  no  time,  the  little  sing-iong  which  many  seem  to  think  reli* 
gfion  should  be  now. 

37* 


438  Notice  ofBairds  'Inquiry  and  Exanunal  ion,* 

unfortunate  one  for  his  cause  ;  it  is  the  shouts  of 
Israel,  in  the  worship  of  the  golden  calf,  at  Horeb, 
and  the  song  they  sung — These  be  thy  Gods,  O  Is- 
rael, (i'c.  p.  32.  That  this  song  was  not  of  divine 
appointment  deducts  very  much  from  the  aptness 
of  it  as  proof  The  assumption  that,  because  Is- 
rael made  the  song  addressed  to  their  idol,  they, 
therefore  made  those  addressed  to  Jehovah,  is  gra- 
tuitous. He  refers  likewise  to  "  the  Book  of  the 
wars  of  the  Lord,"  Num.  21  :  14,  arid  to  the  Book 
of  Joshua,^  mentioned  Josh.  10:  13.;  but  as  he 
knows  nothing  about  these,  they  being  either  long 
since  lost,  or  embodied  in  books  bearing  another 
name,  the  reference  is  useless.  That  either  of 
these  books  was  a  collection  of  poems,  is  without 
evidence.  Dr.  Lightfoot's  conjecture  respecting 
them  is  as  probable  as  any  other,  which  you  know, 
is  far  enough  from  their  being  books  of  songs. — 
Our  inquirer  s  next  reference  is  to  the  dance  of 
the  daughters  of  Shiloh,  Judg.  21  :  21.  As  this 
says  nothing  about  psalmody,  I  leave  it.  His 
next  instance  is  that  of  the  timbrels,  and  the  dance 
of  Jeptha's  lovely  daughter,  Judg.  11;  34.;  and 
the  salutations  of  the  daughters  of  Israel,  ad- 
dressed to  the  son  of  Jesse,  Sam.  18:  7.;  upon 
the  defeat  of  the  Philistines.  Does  Mr.  B.  himself, 
think  you,  really  beheve  that  all  of  these  were  ex- 
emplifications of  solemn  religious  worship?  To  hail 
the  victor  has  been  common  in  all  ages  and  lands  ; 
and  the  civic  song  of  the  daughters  of  Israel,  cel- 
ebrating the  heroism  of  David,  is  finely  illustrated 
in  modern  times,  as  for  instance,  in  the  case  of 
our  own  Washington,  by  the  ladies  of  Trenton, 
when,  while  strewing  his  way  with  flowers,  they 
sung, 

"  Vir2:ins  fair  and  matrons  grave, 
(Then  the  conquerin;2:  arm  did  save  !) 
Build  for  thee  triumphant  bowers. 


On  the  Subject  of  Psalmody.  439 

Strew,  ye  fair,  liis  way  v/ith  fiowers ; 
Straw  your  hero's  way  with  (lowers." 

In  all  these  cases,  Ave  have  honours  rendered  to 
brave  mihtary  leaders,  successful  in  their  country's 
cause  ;  but  no  part  of  religious  worship.  In  ihe 
case  of  Jeptha's  beautiful  daughter,  there  was 
music  and  tlie  dance,  of  song  we  hear  not.  The 
burden  of  the  song  of  the  females  of  Israel,  in 
the  instance  before  us,  was  Scad  hath  slain  his 
thousands,  and  David  his  ten  thousands.  The  1004 
songs  of  Solomon,  which  are  lost,  and  the  funeral 
wailings  of  the  professional  and  real  mournings  of 
the  Jews,  it  seems  to  me,  prove  no  more  for  our 
Examiner,  than  the  inventions  of  Jubal,  or  the 
doubtful  import  of  Hebrew  and  Chaldean  names. 
The  rest  of  the  chapter  is  taken  up  in  proof  of 
w^iat  no  body  denies ;  that  psalms  should  be  ap- 
propriate to  particular  subjects  and  occasions. — 
We  say  so  too ;  and  we  say  farther,  with  Dr. 
Scott,  and  many  other  distinguished  men,  that  we 
are  furnished  with  inspired  songs,  suitable  to  all 
the  subjects  and  occasions  of  christian  praise.-*- 
No  friend  of  inspired  psalmody,  Mr.  B.'s  assertion, 
notwithstanding,  to  the  contrary,  ever  opposed 
this.  But  we  say  farther  still,  that  a  sacred  ode 
may  be  sung  by  us,  very  profitably,  though  there 
be  some  truths  in  it  not  literally  applicable  to  every 
one's  present  case.  That  Mr.  B.  himself  does  so 
sometimes,  in  singing  the  hymns  of  his  church,  is 
very  probable,  nay  very  certain. 

I  now  dismiss  the  chapter,  assuring  you,  sir,  that 
our  Inquirer  has  not  adduced  a  single  example  of 
an  uninspired  ode  being  used  in  God's  worship, 
during  the  whole  period,  from  Adam  till  the  Apos- 
tolical age,  zDith  or  without  divine  approbation.  In 
that  period,  many  divine  songs  were  indeed  com- 
posed, and  introduced  into  the  service  of  the 
church  ;  but  among  them  we  know  not  of  one  Un- 


410  yoticc  ofBairds  'Inquiry  and  Exauiinaiiou  ' 

inspired.  If  there  were,  when  introduced  ? — Lr 
whom  ? — where  is  it  ?  The  song  of  the  morning 
stars,  Jubal's  harp,  Laban's  mirth  and  song,  the 
nineteen  names,  beginning  with  Enc^,  and  ending 
with  Anathoth.  the  unknown  book  of  Joshua,  even 
the  song  addressed  to  the  ido!  calf,  together  with 
all  the  complimentary  expressions,  with  which  he- 
roes were  hailed,  and  all  the  funeral  Ullallcos  of 
the  singing  men  and  singing  women,  whether  of 
antiquity  or  of  modern  days,  will  do  little,  I  am 
disposed  to  imagine,  for  this  man's  cause.  And 
yet  he  has  laboured  over  many  a  page,  to  bring 
proof  of  the  divine  right  of  his  hymns  from  these 
sources;  and,  poor  man,  I  fear  he  really  thinks  he 
has  done  something  to  the  purpose.  He  seems 
to  have  been  encouraged  by  some  indiscreet  or 
w^aggish  companion,  to  make  a  book  ;  lie  made  it, 
as  he  says,  cimi  calamo  currente,  and  truly  he  has 
reason  to  apologize  for  an  argument  which  shouM 
Jiave  been  '  better  lor ought.'' 

The  third  chapter  cf  Mr.  Baird's  book  extends 
from  page  48,  to  page  84  ;  and  takes  up  the  proof 
of  a  human  psalmody  being  divinely  approved, 
and  used,  in  the  Apostolic  age.  He  has  recourse, 
like  others  before  him,  to  the  thanksgiving  cf  Ma- 
ry, Zecharias,  Simeon,  the  angelic  song,  the  cx- 
j)ressions  of  praise  by  those  who  beheld  or  expe- 
rienced the  healing  power  of  the  Redeemer,  the 
extraordinary  gifts  of  the  Corirrthian  church,  &c. 
itc.  This,  like  his  other  chapters,  is  confusedly 
filled.  He  crowds  his  pages  with  quotations  from 
the  commentators  and  historians,  some  of  them 
partially  made,  others  inappropriate,  and  the 
whole  useless  as  to  establishing  his  point.  In  order 
to  establiiih  his  position,  from  these  examples,  it 
behooves  Mr.  B.  to  settle,  previously,  the  three  fol- 
lowing   questions :       Were    these    compositions, 


On  the  Subject  of  Psahnocly.  441 

whether  of  saints  or  angels,  really  introduced  into  ' 
the  psahiiody  of  the  church  iii  that  age,  or  sung 
upon  any  occasion  in  her  worship  I  Secondly, 
were  they  hinnm  composures  ?  This  Mr.  B.  will 
not  affirm,  and  therefore  they  prove  nothing  fof 
his  assumption.  Thirdly,  were  the  compositions 
of  those  saints  actually  sung  by  themselves  ?  Fail- 
ing in  an  affirmative  answer  to  any  of  these  ques- 
tions, his  authorities  do  nothing  for  him,  and  fail- 
ing in  all,  as  he  most  assuredly  docs,  his  cause  is 
hopeless.  Give  one  of  those  many  hymns  of  hu- 
man composures,  used  in  that  age,  give  a  certain 
testimony  of  such  being  so  used,  and  the  cause  is 
gained.  This  Mr.  B.  has  failed  to  do,  and  of 
course  he  proves  nothing  to  the  point. 

The  conjecture  of  Heunlannus  respecting  Eph. 
5  :  14.,  IS  but  conjecture,  and  if  that  text  be  un- 
derstood as  an  extract  from  a  hymn  of  humaji 
co:n^:)03uro,  the  text  itself  opposes  the  conjecture. 
The  A;70stlo  in  the  quotation  refers  to  no  au- 
thority kfss  than  the  inspiration  of  God.  Where- 
fore  hz  skith,  Axoake,  ^-c.  This  chapter  of  our  au- 
thor, though  perhaps  not  so  ridiculous  as  the  for- 
mer ones,  is  really  as  inconciusi.ve.  You  will,  I 
am  sure,  release  me  from  further  notice  of  it  at 
present. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  chapters  of  this  book,  treat 
of  the  history  of  psahnody,  ancient  and  modern, 
I  do  n-^i  see,  so  far  as  tlio  merits  of  the  question 
Jire  concerned,  much  to  be  gained  on  tins  field. — - 
Tiic  advocites  of  an  inspired  psalmody  ,|at  least  the 
autiior  of  the  "  Apology  for  tlie  Book  of  Psalms," 
ad^r-lts  f: dly,  and  1  think,  as  far  as  justifiable,  the 
ciirly  existence  and  use  of  hymns  of  human  com- 
posure. This  admission,  is  all  the  other  side  can 
})rove.  History  will  do  nothing  in  settling  ih^^. 
qiicriioa  of  divine  authority.     Wo  must  have  re-* 


A^2  Notice  ofBaird's  'Inquiry  and  Examination,' 

course  to  God's  own  testimony  for  this  ;  and,  froi>i 
this  source,  I  am  persuaded,  Mr.  B.  has  failed  in 
bringing  such  proof  as  the  ease  demands.  The 
testimony  upon  the  subject,  to  bo  gleaned  from 
ancient  history  is  not  direct.  It  is  only  incidental. 
The  dispute  is  rather  modern  than  ancient,  though 
not  altogether  so.  The  real  state  of  the  matter 
appears  to  be  this  :  the  Book  of  Psalms  had  its 
j)lace  as  the  fixed  liturgy  of  psalmody,  in  the 
church.  In  every  congregation,  where  psalmody 
was  used,  duly  organized  and  settled,  it  was  in  use. 
But  from  a  very  early  period,  upon  special  occa- 
sions, individuals  made  and  used  occasional 
hymns.  These  were  sometimes  used  in  certain 
congregations,  in  the  usual  public  worship ;  or, 
upon  the  occasion  of  being  called  together,  they 
would  be  frequently  used  by  many  individuals, 
though  not  in  the  stated  public  services  of  psalm- 
ody. But  still  the  Book  of  Psalms,  as  the  matter 
of  her  stated  psalmody,  had  its  place  inthe  church, 
pre-eminently  above  every  hymn  of  human  com- 
position. This  pre-eminence  of  place  was  never 
disputed,  except  by  a  very  few  enthusiasts,  and  the 
occasional  hymn  of  humble  pretension,  was  suf- 
fered to  pass  without  animadversion.  It  is  be- 
lieved that,  were  all  that  ancient  history  says  upon 
the  subject  brought  into  one  point,  this  would  be 
the  amount  of  its  testimony.  That  v^^ith  the 
liymns  of  Xepos  m  the  3d  century,  "many  of  the 
l)rethren  werede'iahled."  Spanheim,  to  whom  Mr. 
B.  refers,  states  that  the  hymr.s  and  songs  and 
psaims,  besides  the  Psalms  of  David,  which  were 
brought  into  the  v/estern  church,  in  the  4th  centu- 
ry, were  "  private  ;"  that  is,  not  of  public  aiHhori- 
ty  ;  yet  they  were  in  the  church  and  very  numer- 
ous. Mr.  B.  in  this  chapter,  reasons  with  his  usu- 
al sagacity,  and  abates  not  in   the  indications  of 


On  the  Subject  of  Psalmody.  443 

diseased  temper,  over  which,  he  need  not  have 
informed  his  reader,  he  has  too  hltle  control.  To 
a  few  things  in  this  and  the  foregoing  chapters,  I 
may.fgain  advert,  mean  time,  I  shall  give  you  a 
peep  into  Mr.  B.'s  Sixth  and  last  chapter.  This 
professes  to  be  an  examination  of  Mr.  McMaster's 
'*  Apology  for  the  Book  of  Psalms."  This  might, 
indeed,  have  been  the  title  of  his  whole  pamphlet. 
The  Apology  and  its  author  are  seldom  out  of  his 
view.  Mr.  B.  discovers  an  unceasing  hritabihty 
in  reference  to  that  work,  and  a  snappishness  to- 
ward the  writer  of  it  not  to  be  accounted  for,  ex- 
cept on  the  ground  of  the  wounded  vanity  of  a 
little  mind.  Mr.  McMasters  had  represented  his 
'''  Science  of  Praise,"  as  inferior  to  the  "  Discourse" 
of  Dr.  Latta,  Mr.  B.  was  treated,  in  a  note  of 
the  Apology,  as  unworthy  of  notice.  He  w^as  re- 
presented as  ^copyist  oiTh.  L.  Out  of  these  re- 
presentations Mr.  B.  has  manufactured  some  nick- 
names,  and  gives  them  out  as  the  production  of 
Mr.  McM.'s  pen.  The  term  copyist  he  makes  sy- 
nonymous with  plagiarist,  and  then  complams  of 
misrepresentation.  What  the  author  of  the  Apol- 
ogy intended  by  copyist  I  know  not,  but  as  it  is 
not  synonymous  w^ith  plagiarist,  it  is  not  Hkely  he 
meant  that.  To  copy,  in  one  of  its  acceptations, 
means  to  imitate,  and  of  course  a  copyist  is  an 
imitator.  The  judgment  that  Mr.  B.  falls  behind 
Dr.  L.  seems  to  fix  this  as  the  idc^a  intended.  But 
it  is  of  little  consequence.  I  hope  the  Author  of 
the  Apology  will  give  credit  to  Mr.  B.'s  claim  to 
originality,  and  soothe  so  far,  the  irritation  of  his 
feelings.  It  must  however,  be  noted,  that  in  the 
"  Science  of  Praise,"  there  was  nothing  to  induce 
the  belief  that  its  author  had  not  seen  Dr.  L.'s  dis- 
course. As  to  Dr.  L/s  superiorty  over  Mr.  B.  as 
a  writer,  I  fear  this  latter  work,  now  before   us, 


444  Xoticc  ofBcnrd's  'Inqulrij  a) td Examination,' 

will  furnish,  it*  necessary,  a  lamentable  additional 
proof.  He,  indeed,  in  all  (hat  marks  the  gentle- 
man and  man  oi  mind  lags  far  behind  Dr.  Latta. 
It  comes  not  m  my  way  to  take  notice  of  the  uni- 
form style  of  crimination,  in  which  Mr.  B,  speaks 
of  the  author  of  the  "Apology."  It  would  be  dif- 
ficult for  you  to  conceive  the  vice  of  an  author, 
moral  and  hterary,  which  is  not  charged  upon  the 
head  of  Mr.  McMaster,  and  in  a  form  of  uncourt- 
liness  unsanctioned  by  even  the  example  of  the 
abusive  daily  journals  of  our  times ;  yet  it  would 
seem  Mr.  B.  is  unconscious  of  any  impropriety  of 
manner,  for  his  pages  are  much  employed  in  re- 
peating the  assurances  of  the  delicacy  of  his  lan- 
guage, and  of  his  fredom  from  all  that  is  rude. — 
The  frequency  and  confidence  of  these  charges 
really  induced  me  to  seek  a  reeding  of  the  '  Apol- 
ogy for  tl>e  Psalms,"  to  see  whether  these  things 
were  so.  Mr.  B.'s  want  of  candour,  or  self-con- 
trol, which  you  please,  will  be  best  seen  by  a  pe- 
rusal of  the  work  he  abuses.  You  do  not  expect 
me  to  enter  into  details.  I  may  be  allowed,  how- 
ever, to  advert  to  a  circumstance  or  two  on  which 
our  Inquirer  and  Examiner,  dwells  with  a  sensi- 
tiveness, or  petulance  rather,  peculiarly  his  own  ; 
indicating,  I  should  suppose,  some  latent  con- 
sciousness of  the  justness  of  these  rem.arks  under 
which  he  seems  so  sensitive. 

The  author  of  the  Apology  had  represented  him, 
and  some  others,  as  treating  the  Book  of  Psalms 
with  a  disrespect  amounting  to  hostility.  This 
Mr.  B.  in  his  own  chaste  manner,  pronounces  a 
"  slanderous  falsehood."  You  will  allow  me  to 
appeal  to  those  writings  in  order  to  ascertain 
whether  this  charge  of  slander  and  falsehood  be 
well  founded  or  not. 

In  turning  to  the  'Discourse  on  Psalmody,"  I 


&n  the  Subject  of  Psalmocly,  445 

find  the  author  representing  those  churches,  and 
of  course  the  Presbyterians  among  the  rest,  which 
had  used,  and  continued  to  use  the  Scripture 
Psalnnody,  as  dishonouring  the  gospel,  and  depriv- 
ing tlie  Son  of  God  of  those  honours  given  him 
by  the  primitive  church,  Pref  p.  5.  And  in  p.  10, 
he  teaches,  that,  by  those  wiio  use  the  Bible 
Psalms,  *'not  so  much  as  a  single  Psalm  or  Hymn" 
is  sung  in  conformity  with  Apostolic  direction. — 
And  again,  p  12.,  that  such  praise  is  not  offered 
to  God,  through  the  iiezc  and  living  zvay  ^  and  of 
course  cannot  be  accepted  Adhering,  he  says,  p. 
29.,  "  strictly  to  the  Old  Testament  Psalmody, 
we  cannot  be  said  to  do  a7iy  thing  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus.  No  mention  is  therein  made  of 
the  Father,  as  a  distinct  and  special  object  of  our 
devotion  ;  nor  of  the  Son,  as  being  the  appoint- 
ed way  of  access  to  him.  And,  p  42.,  that  the 
injfluence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  could  not  be  de- 
signed tu  inspire  christian  converts,  with  "vene- 
ration and  respect  for  the  Psalms  of  David." 

Now,  sir,  can  you  imagine  that  it  is  treating  the 
book  of  psalms  with  respect  to  say,  that  the  use  of 
it  in  psalmody,  dishonours  the  gospel  and  deprives 
the  Son  of  God  of  those  honours  once  paid  him  ? 
— that  the  use  of  it  turns  the  worshipper  to  some 
other  object  of  devotion  than  the  Father,  and  to 
some  other  medium  than  the  Son,  for  acceptance  ? 
— that  such  is  their  character,  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
designed  not  to  inspire  christians  with  veneration 
and  respect  for  those  psalms  ?  Is  this  the  language 
of  respect  or  of  disrespect  and  hostility  ?  Let 
the  religious  world  judge.  Is  it  **  slanderous  false- 
hood" to  say,  it  is  disrespectful. 

Without  going  further,  let  us  hear  Mr.  Baird 
himself  I  give  you  a  quotation  from  his  "  Sci- 
ence of  praise,"  p.  81.     ''By   recommending  the 

Vol.  IV. — No.    x.  38 


446  Notice  ofBairds  'Inqmri/ayid  Examination,' 

Psalms  of  David  in  their"  (hymns  of  human  in- 
vention,) "  stead,  under  the  specious  argument  of 
{heir  dizinc  authority,  their  minds  might  be  gradu- 
ally led,  from  the  doctrine  of  a  divine  Saviour,  to  , 
that  of  a  pattern  of  piety,''  ^c. 

'*  The  Psalms  of  David  were  properly  suited  to 
such  a  designed  perversion  of  truth.  Their  appli- 
cation to  Christ  is  obscure  and  Jigurative,  and  of 
course  they  were  more  easily  evaded  or  misappli- 
ed." Mr.  B.,  in  his  "  Inquiry,"  contends  that  the 
language  and  sentiment  of  the  above  quotation 
are  correct,  and  sufficiently  respectful  to  the  Book 
of  Psalms.  The  author  of  the  "  Apology,"  it 
seems,  thought  otherwise,  and  I  mistake  if  you 
do  not  think  otherwise  too.  Is  it  possible,  con- 
sistently with  due  respect  for  it,  to  affirm  of  any 
portion  of  God's  word,  viewed  in  its  proper  con- 
nection, that  it  is  calculated  to  lead  the  mind 
from  the  doctrine  of  a  divine  Saviour  ?  Is  the 
language  allowed,  in  any  circumstance,  which  af- 
firms of  a  Book  of  sacred  Scripture  that  it  is 
*' properly  suited  to  a  designed  perversion  of  truth  V' 
You,  I  am  well  assured,  will  say,  such  language 
and  sentiment  are  more  than  disrespectful ;  and 
decidedly  indicate  a  spirit  of  hostihty  to  that 
against  which  they  are  directed.  It  is  not  a  style 
similar  to  that  which  represents  what  is  good,  in^it- 
self  being  hable  to  be  perverted  to  evil,  by  a  wick- 
ed hand  ;  but  rather  that  style  which  represents  a 
wicked  hand  employing  an  evil  instrument,  ''prop- 
erly suited,''  to  the  end,  for  a  wicked  purpose.  It 
is  not  true,  as  Mr.  B.  asserts,  that  the  grace  of 
God  manifested  to  Abel,  was  ''properly  suited"  to 
call  forth  the  malignity  of  Cain's  heart ;  but  the 
reverse  is  the  truth ;  it  w^is properly  suited  to  have 
repressed  that  malignity,  and  to  have  softened  the 
heart  of  Cain.     Nor  was  the   coming  of  Christ, 


On  the  subject  of  Psalmody.  447 

and  the  promulgation  of  his  gospel  properly  suited, 
as  our  author  further  affirms,  to  bring  wickedness 
and  misery  upon  the  world  ;  but  the  reverse.  But 
it  is  true  that  the  iifialignity  of  Cain's  heart  was 
properly  suited  to  hate  the  grace  of  God,  bestow- 
ed upon  his  brother  and  to  murder  him  on  that  ac- 
count ;  and  tiie  wickedness  of  the  world  was  prop- 
erly suited  to  lead  it  to  hate  Christ,  and  to  per- 
secute his  cause  and  people.  And  may  we  not 
say,  without  breach  of  charity,  it  is  further  true, 
that  Mr.  B.'s  ignorance  of,  and  enmity  against,  the 
Book  of  Psalms,  were  properly  suited  to  lead  him 
to  affirm,  that  it  was  "  properly  suited  to  a  perver- 
sion of  truth,"  in  leading  the  mind  "  from  the  doc- 
trine of  a  divine  Saviour"?  No  explanation  can 
Justify  the  assertion. 

But  has  not  Mr.  B.  explained  himself  by  assign- 
ing the  obscurity  and  figurative  character  of  that 
Book,  as  the  reason  of  his  assertion?  And  w^hy 
did  not  the  author  of  the  ''Apology,"  give  the  ex- 
planation in  his  quotation  ?  Why  he  did  not,  I 
candidly  answer,  I  do  not  know^ ;  but  I  do  know 
if  he  had,  it  could  have  made  nothing  for  Mr.  B. 
To  know  the  value  of  the  reason  he  assigns,  that 
is,  the  obscurity  of  the  Book  of  Psalms,  it  must  be 
taken  in  connection  with  the  tenor  of  thought 
which  prevails  throughout  his  pages,  and  in  that 
connection,  you  will  perceive  it  goes  as  an  addi- 
tional proof  of  his  enmity  to  the  Book  of  Psalms, 
in  the  psalmody  of  the  church,  and,  in  that  light, 
v/as  intended  to  produce  opposition  to  it  in  the 
minds  of  others.  Attend  then,  sir,  to  the  manner 
in  which  he  has  spoken,  in  his  previous  pages,  of 
this  inspired  book  :  he  represents  attachment  to 
the  Scripture  Psalms  as  flowing  from  a  Judaizing 
disposition — Science  of  Praise  p,  12.;  the  use  of 
those  psalms    by  christians,   in   addressing   their 


448  .Xoticc  cfBalrcls  'Inquiri/  and  Exambmihjn. 

heavenly  Father,  as  an  imperfeet  babyish  lati 
guagc,  p.  19.;  like  worshipping  in  an  unknowii 
longue,  p.  37.;  he  represents  their  language  as  oi'- 
^•Qure  and  unprofitable,  p.  39.  ;  that,  the  use  of  i.t: 
does  not  honour  God,  p.  49. ;  that  it  is  a  yoke  of 
hondagc.  j).  71.;  and  in  the  quotation  alrcadj 
given,  that  it  is  calculated  to  lead  the  mind  from 
a  divine  Saviour,  nuA  so  properly  suited  \o  ?i per^ 
version  of  truth.  The  additional  sentence,  ex^ 
pressivc  of  the  obscurity  &c.  of  the  Book  of  Psalms, 
instead  of  doing  away  the  bad  impression,  made 
by  his  previous  affirmation,  when  taken  as  it  ought 
to  be,  in  connection  with  the  spirit  of  his  pamph- 
let, and  strain  of  his  language,  can  be  understood 
in  no  other  light,  than  as  a  constituent  part  of  that- 
studied  tirade  of  obloquy,  which  he  had  all  along 
been  pouring  upon  this  portion  of  the  sacred  vol- 
ume, and  consequently  going  to  confirm  the  most", 
unfavourable  interpretation  that  has  been  put- 
upon  his  Janguage. 

We  have  not  yet  done  with  the  evidence  of  Mr. 
B.'s  hostility  against  the  Book  of  Psalms.  His  "In- 
quiry," gives  further  evidence  of  thi^.  In  the  use 
of  the  inspired  Psalms,  he  holds,  the  Messiah  can- 
not be  owned,  nor  God  approached  ^hrough  him  ; 
for  if  so,  he  asks,  what  was  the  use  of  giving  a 
large  portion  of  the  New  Testament?  p.  75. ; — 
that  in  the  use  of  those  psalms,  there  is  no  act  of 
worship  performed  in  the  name  of  Christ ;  for 
those  who  used  them  acted  only  in  common  with 
the  Jews  who  hated  Christ."  p.  75,  76.  ;  that  it  is 
demonstrated,  that,  in  singing  those  Psalms,  there 
is  no  confession  of  Jesus  as  the  Messiah,  nor  per- 
formance of  devotion  in  his  name,  p.  77. ;  that 
the  psalms  are  a  part  of  the  beggarly  elements,  p. 
1 52.  ;  that  from  these  beggarly  elements,  the  pas- 
tors of  the  Presbyterian   Church    are   gradually 


0,1  the  Subject  of  Fsalniodij.    .  449 

weaning  ihcir  members,  and  that  all  who  refuse  to 
reject  these  psalms,  as  beggarly  elements,  and  do 
not  adopt  a  neio  song  are  not  disposed  to  honor  the 
Son  even  as  they  honour  the  Father  !  p.  1 7 1 .  Mr. 
B.  too,  by  his  manner  of  approving  the  "  Carlisle 
Hints,"  which  you  noticed  in  vol.  1 .  of  your  jour- 
nal, may  be  fairly  understood  as  approving  of  the 
impious  sentiments  of  that  profane  pamphlet,  in 
charging  upon  the  Book  of  Psalms,  without  dis- 
guise, a  spirit  of  extermination,  havoc  and  destruc- 
tion ,'  as  having  a  tendency  to  foster  malevolent 
feelings,  &c.  &c. 

Will  you  now,  sir,  tell  me  who  will  affirm  that 
Mr.  B.  gives  not  evidence  of  enmity  against  the 
Book  of  Psalms  I  With  what  face  can  Mr.  B. 
profess  friendship  to  that  book,  if  he  really  believes 
what  he  whites  ?  Can  he  be  attached  to  that,  to 
wiiich  he  says  none  can  adhere  but  from  a  Juda- 
izing  disposition?  Can  he  reverence  that  book 
which  teaches  only  an  imperfect  and  babyish  lan- 
guage, the  use  of  which  is  hke  that  of  an  un- 
known tongue  ?  Can  he  respect  that  which  he 
reckons  so  obscure  and  unprofitable? — which  does 
not  honour  God  ? — w^hich  is  a  yoke  of  bondage? 
— which  contains  no  hymn  to  the  Saviour  as  God  ? 
— the  use  of  which  does  not  own  the  Redeemer  ? 
— w^hich  leads  him,  not  by  the  Son,  to  the  Father  ? 
— which  conducts  to  act  in  common  with  the  Jew 
who  hated  Christ  ? — which  is  beggarly  ? — Can  he 
love  tliat  book  which  under  any  circumstances, 
would  lead  the  mind  from  the  doctrine  of  a  di- 
vine Saviour,  and  h properly  suited  to  such  ^per- 
version of  truth  ?  Can  he  be  cordial  to  that  book, 
which  would  keep  him  from  worshipping  the  Son 
even  as  the  Father  ?  Can  he  regard  those  Psalms, 
fcora  attachment  to  which,  he  says,  he  and  others 
*38 


450  jS^ot'ice  ofBalrd's  'Inquiry  and  Exajninalion/ 

are    gradually   weaning  the  people,  as  from  beg- 
garly elements  ?     Most  assuredly  not. 

These  sentiments,  now  under  notice,  give  body 
and  spirit  to  Mr.  B.'s  scheme  of  Psalmody.  Take 
them  away  and  nothing  remains.  He  neverthe- 
less, occasionally  professes  regard  to  the  Book  of 
Psalms.  My  dear  sir,  is  there  no  reason  to  sus- 
pect, in  these  occasional  professions,  something 
of  the  hollowness  of  hypocrisy  ?  Something  of 
the  meanness  of  pious  fraud,  to  still,  in  the  mean 
time,  the  fears  of  those  whom  he  is  employed  in 
bringing  off,  gradually,  from  these  beggar/ 1/  ele- 
ments of  a  Bible  Psalmody  ?  Think  you  differ- 
ently  ?  Is  he  still  an  honest  man  ?  Is  your  chari- 
ty for  his  heart  at  the  expense  of  respect  for  his 
head?  Be  it  so,  then.  Let  the  exclamation  of 
the  fox  in  the  fable,  furnish  his  apology  :  c^ci^  Ki(focXr,r 

I  purposed  to  have  noticed  to  you  some  instan- 
ces of  Mr.  B.'s  uniform  want  of  candour,  in  the 
treatment  of  the  subject  before  him  ;  such  as  in 
his  proposed  attack  on  the  first  argument  of  the 
Apology  for  the  Book  of  Psalms,  which  he  takes 
care  to  keep  out  of  view,  falling  only  upon  some 
collateral  considerations,  the  historical  state  of  the 
question  so  far  as  disputed,  which  he  certainly  mis- 
represents ;  and  his  claims  to  originality  were 
they  not  too  silly  to  be  laughed  at,  might  have 
been  noticed.  His  representations  are  too  uni- 
formly at  variance  with  truth,  to  be  ascribed  to 
mere  oversight,  were  we  not  to  admit  his  apology 
of  the  urgency  of  friends,  the  speed  and  demands 
of  the  press,  the  unmanageable  rapidity  of  his 
pen,  for  he  assures  us  he  was  obliged  literally  and 
truly  to  write  crmi  calamo  current e,  and  his  less  im- 


On  the  Subject  of  Psalmo(hj.  4j1 

manageable  temper,"*  all  combined  to  allow  him 
no  time  for  the  correction  of  his  copy,  or  the  bet- 
ter working  of  his  argument ;  exce[)t  to  score  and 
interline  a  httle.  To  treat  with  severity  a  book 
written  under  such  circumstances,  you  could  not 
have  the  heart,  and  to  give  credit  to  its  statements 
no  man  of  candour  will  be  disposed. 

Now,  my  dear  sir,  do  you^  still  ask  my  opinion  of 
this  pamphlet  ?  If  so,  permit  me  to  say  to  you, 
its  hterary  character  invites  neither  pleasure  nor 
animadversion.  It  is  lower  than  contemptible. 
Its  moral  bearings  are  deplorable,  when  it  is  re- 
collected that  it  h  the  production  of  an  actual  mi- 

/nister  of  a  respectable  denominatk)n  of  christians. 

/it  is  the  lowest  production  upon  the  subject,  if  we 
except  the  profuse  '  Hints'  from  the  Carlisle  author, 
wdiich  Mr.  B.  so  highly  eulogizes.  That  such  a 
book  should  really  have  appeared,  at  this  day,  will 
not  be  readily  believed  by  those  who  have  not  read 
it,  or  who  have  not  confidence  in  the  report  of 
those  who  have. 

Your  goodness,  when  you  know  the  merits  of 
the  pamphlet,  will,  I  trust,  excuse  the  frequent  ab- 
sence of  gravity  which  will  have  appeared  to  you 
in  reading  this  letter.  You,  sir,  serious  as  you  are, 
could  not  be  always  grave,  with  the  odd  mixture 
of  vanity,  petulence,  nonsense,  pretension,  and 
gossipinc^  tales,  served  up  before  you  in  the  pages 
of  Mr.  B.  Had  I  supposed  the  thing  likely  to  do 
any  harm,  I  would,  had  none  other  done  it,  have 
noticed  it  gravely  ;  but  those  for  w  hom  he  said  he 
w^rote,  the  ignorant,  it  will  not  hurt,  and  to  those 
of  another  description  it  is  not  calculated  to  do 
either  good  or  evil.     It  is  indeed  a  harmless  thing. 

*  "  All  censure  of  man's  self  is  oVjlique  praise.  It  is''in  order  to 
show  how  much  he  can  spare.  It  has  all  the  invidiousncss  of  self 
prais-^,  and  all  the  reproach  of  falsehood."  Believing  this  opinion 
of  a  distins^uished  man  to  be  correct,  I  am  induced  to  notice  I^V. 
B/s  foolish  complaint  to  tlic  public  on  his  infirmity  of  temper. 


452  Xutlcc  of  BalnT s  'Liquiry  and  ExaminaKoit . 

The  existence,  nevertheless,  of  this  subject  of 
controversy,  in  the  church,  is  to  be  lamented.  Had 
the  modern  pursued  the  course  of  the  ancient 
church,  in  continuing  to  tlie  Book  of  Psalms  its 
prominent  place,  as  the  stated  liturgy  of  her  psal- 
mody, some  of  her  children  employing  an  occa- 
sional hymn  if  they  pleased,  of  modern  make  on  a 
]>articular  occasion,  controversy  on  the  subject 
would  never  have  been  known.  And  when  those 
who  have  deviated  from  the  ancient  path,  shall 
have  retraced  their  steps,  the  matter  of  dispute 
will  be  reduced  to  narrow  bounds.  We  hope  the 
day  when  it  shall  be  so  is  rapidly  approaching. 
Distinguished  men  in  the  churches,  do  not  believe 
the  assertions  of  those  rash  men  who  affirm,  that 
all  who  employ  in  their  psalmody  the  Book  of 
Psahns,  dishonour  the  Gospel,  do  not  honour  the- 
Son  as  they  honour  the  Father,  and  address  not 
God  through  the  name  of  Christ.  They  would 
not  thus  put  under  ban  the  Presbyterian  Churches 
of  the  Pteformation  :  the  Church  of  Holland,  the 
Church  of  France,  the  Church  of  Scotland  down^ 
till  this  day,  the  whole  Presbyterian  interest  of 
Ireland,  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  tlie  United 
States  till  a  very  late  day,  and  even  till  this  day, 
not  to  mention  the  Secession  Church,  the  Associate 
Reformed,  and  Reformed  Presbyterian  Churches. 
Such  may  be  the  views  of  Mr.  Baird  and  a  few 
like  him  ;  but  such  cannot  be  the  views  of  the 
sound  and  reflecting  men,  particularly  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Such  cannot  be  the  views  of 
our  Greers,  our  Alexanders,  our  Millers,  our  Blatch- 
Ibrds,  &c.  These  gentlemen  well  know  that  a 
literal  version  of  the  Book  of  Psalms  is  authorized 
by  their  supreme  ecclesiastical  judicatory,  as  a  fit 
liturgy  of  evangelical  Psalmody,  both  by  their  an- 
eient  practice  and  by  their  act  of  1787  ;  and  by 


On  the  Siihjcct  of  Psalmodij.  453 

the  same  authority  is  prohibited  the  censuring  of 
that  version.  Now,  sir,  can  you  bcheve  that  such 
men  as  those  adverted  to  above,  who  sway  the 
pohcy  of  the  General  Assembly,  did  they  view  the 
Book  of  Psalms  as  a  part  of  the  yoke,  of  bondage, 
as  a  beggarly  clement  as  not  honouring  Christ ;  as 
leading,  in  the  use  of  it,  to  God  in  any  other  way 
than  in  the  name  of  Christ;  you  would  not  only 
suffer  it,  but  by  authority  put  it  into  the  hands  of 
their  people  as  their  liturgy  of  sacred  song  ?  No, 
no  :  such  opinions  are  the  '  effusions'  of  ignorance 
or  the  ebullitions  of  a  suppressed  mfidelity.  That 
they  are  not  noticed  and  silenced  by  the  authority 
of  the  church  may  perhaps  be  accounted  for,  by 
the  insignificance  of  their  authors.  My  dear  sir, 
you  see  my  sheet  is  full,  and  I  doubt  not  you  are 
glad  to  see  the  conclusion  in  a  cordial  farewell. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Willson. 

Jioie  ^nd,  182C. 

J\^ote. — Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  read  a 
lengihened  account  of  some  public  debates  be- 
tween several  Protestant  Clergymen  and  a  num- 
ber of  Roman  Catholic  Priests,  upon  the  propriety 
of  Bible  Societies  circulating,  and  putting  into  the 
tiands  of  the  people,  indiscriminately,  the  Bible 
without  note  or  comment.  I  was  struck  very  for- 
cibly with  the  similarity  of  the  topics  of  argument 
employed  by  the  Catholics,  against  the  circulating 
of  the  scriptures,  and  those  of  Mr.  B.  against  the 
use  of  the  Book  of  Psalms  in  the  Church's  psalmo- 
dy. The  i^hscurity  of  the  matter,  the  imperfection 
of  the  written  word,  the  necessity  of  something  else, 
the  defects  of  the  English  version,  and  the  conse- 
quent danger  to  the  people,  were  the  prominent 
topics  cf  argument  used  by  the  Catholics  ;  and 
these  are  the  chief  topics  selected  by  Mr.  B.  Like 
him,  too,  thev  were  offended,  when  their  conduct 


454        Dialogue  on  Experimental  Religion. 

was  represented  as  inimical  to  the  Bible.  He  and 
they,  hovyever,  have  their  dissinmilarities ;  the  lan» 
guagc  of  the  Catholics  is  less  oftensive,  and  they 
sufficiently  indicate  that  it  was  men  of  sense  mr'- 
naging  a  bad  cause. 

dialogi;k  O-V  experimental  religion". 

Paul.  The  sermon,  William,  which  we  heard 
yesterday,  was  calculated  to  make  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  a  reflecting  audience.  IIow  important  is 
ihe  question  asked  in  the  text,  'Who  shall  ascend 
into  the  hill  of  God?" 

William.  It  was,  indeed,  and  on  me  it  did  make 
a  deep  impression.  1  am  glad  that  you  have  in- 
troduced this  topic.  This  morning  I  feel  its  powder 
with  nearly  the  same  force  as  when  the  preacher 
^vas  giving  utterance  to  its  solemn  truths. 

P.  That  is  w^hat  I  fear  few  hearers  of  the  gos- 
pel can  say  on  Monday  morning.  Most  of  them 
are  ''like  a  man  beholding  his  natural  face  in  a 
glass,  who  straightw^ay  departeth  and  forgetteth 
what  manner  of  man  he  was."  How  few  are  there 
who  "  lay  up  the  word  in  their  hearts  and  practice 
iti:i  their  lives  !" 

W.  This  is  a  neglect  of  which  I  have  often  been 
guilty.  Though  it  is  some  year.^  now  since  I  made 
a  profession  of  religion,  and  though  I  was  much 
moved  on  the  occasion  of  my  first  appearance  at 
the  communion  table,  yet  1  have  heard  many  ex- 
cellent sermons  with  great  coldness,  and  have  soon 
forofotten,  w^hat  I  heard. 

P  Few,  there  is  reason  to  fear,  can  entirely  ac- 
quit themsefves  of  blame  on  this  quarter.  A  de- 
fect on  this  point  is  commonly  imputed  to  a  natu- 
ral lack  of  memory,  while  the  fault  lies  in  inatten- 
tion and  want  of  love  to  the  truth, 

/F.  So  great  has  been  my  languor  and  coldness 


THE 

EVANGEKXCAI. 

UBLISHED    UNDER    THE    PATRONAGE    OF    THE   AMERICAN 

EVANGELICAL  TRACT  SOCIETY. 


EDITED    BY 

JAMES  H.  W£Z.I.SON,  A.M. 


T  laving,  therefore, obtained  help  of  God,  I  continue  until  tliis  day 
rt'itncssing  both  to  small  and  g;reat,  ?ayin^  none  other  things  thai- 
hose  whicli  the  Prophets  and  Moses  did  say.  ^^cts  xxvi.  22 


PUBLISHED  MONTHLY 


NEWBURGH,  N.  Y. 


>RINTBD  AT  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  N.  B.  GAZETTE,  DV 
PARMENTER  &  SPALDING. 

1826. 


